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MUCHO MACHO MAN

As the curtain fell on a memorable 2013 racing season, the detailed storybook career of the 2013 Breeders' Cup Classic (Gr. I) winner, MUCHO MACHO MAN, is chronicled through in-depth televised film clips and segments since 2011.

MUCHO MACHO MAN, whose earnings topped the $5.3 million mark, was bestowed with the 2013 Secretariat Vox Populi, or "Voice of the People," award - a huge honor and a very worthy recipient.

The 5-year-old's on-track exploits are, obviously, a major part of the story, but hardly overshadow another compelling element. He is trained by heart transplant recipient, Kathy Ritvo, whose determination and courage has allowed her to battle extreme odds to reach the pinnacle in racing.

Uniquely intertwined in this feel-good scenario is Hall of Fame jockey and former horse racing analyst - Gary Stevens. Included in this feature are Stevens' comments from 2011 when MUCHO MACHO MAN was beginning to craft a great career by winning the Risen Star (gr. II) at the Fair Grounds Race Course.

His ascent continued from there, and Stevens witnessed MUCHO MACHO MAN's growth through several graded stakes, leading to a hard-fought runner-up finish in the 2012 Breeders' Cup Classic. The son of MACHO UNO avenged that loss in the Classic at Santa Anita Park in November of 2013 and Stevens had a perfect view of the huge win - riding him to a nose victory as part of his own notable comeback, and return to the saddle, came full circle.

It was Stevens' second Grade I win aboard MUCHO MACHO MAN (the first being in the Awesome Again at Santa Anita a couple months earlier in September.)

This feature looks back at one of horse racing's enduring stars - MUCHO MACHO MAN!